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I can’t cope with work right now

1 reply

BlueOtter9 · 09/02/2026 22:57

Hi all,

I’m at breaking point and I don’t know how I’m meant to keep going.

I work in school leadership and the workload/scrutiny is relentless. Every week I have:

  • weekly line management meetings with senior leadership
  • weekly meetings with a highly senior staff member
  • weekly check-ins with a member of staff who operates across all schools
  • constant demands for advanced planning that no one shows me how to do, schemes of work, planning documents and all other manner of documents
  • constant scrutiny over everything I do (even how I phrase emails)
  • additional issues landing on my desk or a staff member on my team having digs at me and emailing them to my superiors
inherited department problems such as poor attitudes. Me being spoken to like a piece of shit too. Then expected to take it.

It no longer feels supportive — it feels like pressure and undermining.

I’m going. But honestly, I feel mentally and physically exhausted. I dread work every day and I’m struggling to sleep or cope.

How do I get through the next few weeks without having a breakdown? Do I push through until March, or go off sick? Any advice appreciated. I’m also made to feel like I’m letting the children down if I’m off. Everyone just has a very bad attitude here and the poor manners just shock me. They’re just so nasty and toxic. I feel like I’m suffocating.

OP posts:
viking11 · 09/02/2026 23:39

So sorry to hear how difficult things are at the moment. I have experienced similar ..as a teacher. I saw my GP who signed me off work and joined a union.
Have you spomen with your GP? There is support out there.
Good luck.

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